Page 4 of Inferno

“Where were you?” she asks.

Steph is one of the few people who knows that I’m one of two survivors of that fire, and when all I do is tilt my head, understanding flashes in her eyes.

“Shit,” she mutters as she reaches for my hand. “C’mon. The day is over, and you need a drink.”

Right. Because alcohol is going to make everything all better.

2

Inferno

“Why do you do this to yourself?”

I glare at Eir, the Valkyrie who was assigned to me upon my demise and thrust my arm at her. Flames dance across my skin, my anger fueling my power.

“Again,” I demand.

Worry passes in her eyes, but I ignore it. She could refuse me, could send me back to my room, but she won’t. She knows I need this, have always needed it. I’ll admit, it’s gotten worse since we were sent to the human world for Makayla.

Eir heaves a sigh and rests her hand on my arm. The flames calm, and my head fills with visions.

“E-Emmaline. But my mommy calls me Emmy.”

I smile at the little girl, hoping like hell it eases her fear. “Emmy, I need you to go across the street to where those people are, okay?” I say, pointing to the crowd that’s gathered.

After nodding, she runs away from me, and I quickly turn to race back inside.

“Wait a second!”

Her shout reaches my ears, but I don’t let it stop me. I make a mental note to find Emmy when this whole ordeal is over to see what she wanted, but for now, I focus on saving more kids.

It’s about time I do something with my life, and what could be better than this?

“Hello! Anyone in here?” I shout every few feet.

It’s damn near impossible to see, let alone breathe, but I push forward.

My surroundings shimmer, and I’m back in the field with Eir.

“Why’d you let go?” I bark, shoving a hand through my hair.

“Because you know what happens next.”

“Of course, I do,” I snap. “A fucking beam falls, trapping me, and I burn to death.”

“Then you don’t need to see it,” Eir insists. “Inferno, you don’t have to watch it day in and day out. I swear, you’re the only warrior who punishes himself like this.”

“I’m not punishing myself.”

“Then what are you doing?”

I’m saved from responding when Odin appears out of thin air.

“Eir, leave us,” he orders.

Eir glances at me as if making sure I’m okay, but when Odin turns to face her, she shimmers and disappears.

“She’s right, you know,” Odin states when he returns his attention to me.

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